Helleborus plant named &#39;blt02&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Helleborus  plant particularly distinguished by abundant, pink inflorescences, a compact and mounded plant habit and a vigorous growth habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Helleborus L. hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BLT02’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar botanicallyknown as Helleborus L., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name‘BLT02’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in March2002 in Kilmeston, Alresford, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The femaleparent was the Helleborus niger plant Potters Wheel strain (unpatented),while the male parent was an unnamed plant of Helleborus×sterniiBlackthorn group (unpatented). The seeds produced by the hybridizationwere sown in a greenhouse in Kilmeston in the United Kingdom in June2002. A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and forasexual propagation in the February 2004 in Kilmeston in the UnitedKingdom.

‘BLT02’ was subsequently asexually propagated by in vitro propagation inAalsmeer, The Netherlands for four and one-half years. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Europe onDec. 4, 2008. ‘BLT02’ has not been made publicly available more than oneyear prior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands.

1. Abundant, pink inflorescences;

2. A compact and mounded plant habit; and

3. A vigorous growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This Helleborus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a whole plantabout one-year-old, grown outdoors in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘BLT02’. The data which defines these characteristicswere collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Aalsmeer, TheNetherlands. The plant history was taken on one-year-old plants inFebruary and grown outdoors. Color readings were taken under naturallight outdoors. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ranunculaceae.        -   Genus and species.—Helleborus L. Hybrid.        -   Common.—Hellebore.        -   Variety name.—‘BLT02’.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vigorous with a compact            and mounded plant habit.        -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation by tissue culture.        -   Height.—30 cm.        -   Width.—20 cm to 30 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—About 1 year.        -   Root habit.—Vigorous root system.-   Stems:    -   -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Length.—30 cm.        -   Diameter.—20 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.1 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 183C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type.—Compound and palmate.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Length.—20 cm.        -   Width.—15 cm.        -   Leaflet length.—5 cm to 10 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Rounded.        -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaflet texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Leaflet color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 133A Lower            surface: RHS 139C Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 133A Lower            surface: RHS 139C.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Leaflet venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 183C and RHS 133B            Lower surface: RHS 183C and RHS 139C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 10 cm to 15 cm Diameter: 4.0 mm Color: RHS            183C Texture: Smooth.        -   Petiolule.—Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 2.0 mm Color: RHS 183C            Texture: Smooth.        -   Stipules.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Loosely branched cyme (raceme) composed of single            rounded flowers.        -   Flower diameter.—5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—2 cm.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—6 to 9.        -   Self cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flowering season.—January through March.        -   Quantity of inflorescences on the plant.—3 to 4, but depends            on the age of the plant.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Lastingness of inflorescences on the plant.—About 3 months.        -   Diameter.—20 cm.        -   Depth (height).—20 cm to 25 cm.-   Bud:    -   -   Height.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—RHS 70C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Length.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Slightly serrate.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Number per inflorescence.—5 to 15.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 133A Lower surface: RHS 139C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—15 cm to 20 cm.        -   Width.—4.0 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 183C.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.0 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 183C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Rotundate.        -   Base.—Rotundate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color.—While opening, inside: RHS 63D and RHS 139C While            opening, outside: RHS 63D and RHS 59C and RHS 139C Fully            open, inside: RHS 63C and RHS 139C Fully open, outside: RHS            63C and RHS 59A and RHS 139C.-   Nectary:    -   -   Length.—0.1 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.        -   Number per flower.—13 to 14.        -   Arrangement.—Whorl.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Color.—RHS 144A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 40 to 50 Color: RHS 11D Length: 3.0 mm            Width: 0.1 mm.        -   Anthers.—Anther shape: Ovate Anther length: 0.2 cm Anther            diameter: 0.1 cm Anther color: RHS 11D Pollen amount: None.        -   Pistils.—Number: 5 Shape: Tuberculate Length: 2.0 cm Width:            0.1 cm Color: RHS 70C.        -   Stigma.—Length: 0.2 cm Width: 0.1 cm Color: RHS 155B.        -   Ovary.—Shape: Lanceolate Color: RHS 70C.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘BLT02’ differs from the female Helleborus niger plant Potters Wheelstrain (unpatented) in that ‘BLT02’ has stems that are caulescent (boththe leaves and the flowers are borne from the same stems), while thefemale parent has leaves that are borne on stems separate from theflowers. Additionally, ‘BLT02’ has stems that bear more than one flower,while the female parent has stems that bear only one flower per stem.

‘BLT02’ differs from the male parent an unnamed plant ofHelleborus×sternii Blackthorn group (unpatented) in that ‘BLT02’ has 5leaflets per leaf, while the male parent has 3 leaflets per leaf.Additionally, ‘BLT02’ has pinkish-purple flower buds and sepals, whilethe male parent has greenish-white flower buds and sepals.

‘BLT02’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Pink Beauty’ (unpatented)in that ‘BLT02’ has more intense pink inflorescences and moreinflorescences per plant than ‘Pink Beauty’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant as described andshown herein.